Tawi-Tawi mayor, aides held in Sabah for intrusion

MANILA, Philippines - A town mayor of Tawi-Tawi who is running for reelection under the administration’s Liberal Party (LP), his running mate and supporters were detained by Malaysian authorities for intrusion in Sabah Tuesday night.

Languyan Mayor Rommel Matba, his running mate and cousin Amman Matba, police escort PO2 Hassan Bin Abdiullah and at least 21 supporters of LP gubernatorial bet Norbert Sahali were on a motorized boat that drifted near Lahad Datu, the coastal village in Sabah where fighters of the Sulu sultanate had earlier battled Malaysian security forces.

Malaysian Defense Minister Zahid Hamidi ordered the release of the 33 Filipinos late Tuesday night following an appeal from Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The Philippine government said Matba, a nephew of former Tawi-Tawi governor Gerry Matba, and his supporters were on their way to Taganak or the Turtle Islands to campaign when  their boat, the M/L Sheralyn, developed engine trouble. Strong waves pushed it toward Tambisan Point near Lahad Datu.

President Aquino ordered Del Rosario to secure the release of the Filipinos, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said yesterday. Del Rosario then rang up his Malaysian counterpart Anifah Aman.

“The secretary of foreign affairs received a call from the President who directed him to help out the 33 Filipinos who, because of rough seas, were carried into Malaysian waters,” Hernandez said. “Today, the processing of their papers was undertaken.”

Other reports said the group was going to the island town of Mapon for a campaign rally. Mapon is near Brookes Point in Palawan and Taganak, which serves as the landing point for Filipinos displaced by the fighting in Sabah.

Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the group was “rescued by the Malaysian maritime police.”

Senior Superintendent Joselito Salido, Tawi-Tawi provincial police director, gave a similar account, saying, “They were not arrested but were rescued.”

Malaysia’s state-run Bernama news agency reported Monday that 32 suspected supporters of the Sulu sultanate, armed with guns and machetes, were arrested 12 nautical miles east of the Lahad Datu coast. The boat had nine crewmembers.

Lt. Cmdr. Jomark Angue, Philippine Coast Guard district office spokesman, said a Malaysian marine patrol intercepted the group at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Malaysians towed the boat toward Sandakan where the group was detained.

Citing field reports, Angue said the men were intercepted “for illegal entry.”

Sulu sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the group carried two M16 rifles and several pistols. He said the men were not supporters of the sultanate.

Records of the Commission on Elections showed that the Matbas originally ran as independents and were set to formalize their membership in the LP at the rally in Mapon town. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Aurea Calica, Mike Frialde